12/15 Foods in Taiwan

Resource
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_cuisine

Article
Taiwanese cuisine
Taiwanese cuisine itself is often associated with influences from mid to southern provinces of China (Canton, Fujian, etc.. due to proximity) along with Japan (due to historical occupation). Traditional Chinese food to be found in Taiwan, alongside Taiwanese and Hakka-style dishes, includes dishes from Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Shanghai, Hunan, Sichuan and Beijing.

Ingredients and culture
Pork, rice, soy are very common ingredients, as with many Chinese cuisines. Beef is far less common, and some Taiwanese (particularly the elderly generation) still refrain from eating it. This is in part due to the considerations of some Taiwanese Buddhists, a traditional reluctance towards slaughtering precious cattle needed for agriculture, and an emotional attachment to such beasts of labour.
Taiwan's cuisine has also been influenced by its geographic location. Living on a crowded island, the Taiwanese had to look aside from the farmlands for sources of protein. As a result, seafood figures prominently in their cuisine. This seafood encompasses many different things, from large fish such as tuna and grouper, to sardines and even smaller fish such as anchovies. Crustaceans, squid, and cuttlefish are also eaten.
Because of the island's sub-tropical location, Taiwan has an abundant supply of various fruit, such as papayas, melons and citrus. A wide variety of tropical fruits, imported and native, are also enjoyed in Taiwan. Other agricultural products in general are rice, corn, tea, pork, poultry, beef, fish, and other fruits and vegetables. Fresh ingredients in Taiwan are readily available from markets.
The scarcity of natural resources has made for hard living on the island. As the Taiwanese had to make do with very little, they show remarkable adaptiveness, craftiness and creativity when it comes to preparing food.
From many of their dishes, the Taiwanese have shown their inventiveness in the selection of spices. Taiwanese cuisine relies on an abundant array of seasonings for flavour: Soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, fermented black beans, pickled radishes, peanuts, chili peppers, parsley, and a local variety of basil ("nine story tower"). The resulting dishes thus combine and form interesting tastes which make Taiwanese cuisine simple in format yet complex in experience.

Food that represents each main city
Chiayi
Turkey rice bowls (雞肉飯) are bowls of rice with shredded turkey layered on top, often accompanied by pickled daikon radish.

Hsinchu
Pork balls (貢丸) are often eaten in soup. Another famous one is rice-flour noodles(米粉) that are not eaten in soup, but by itself. Mushroom and ground meat are usually found in it.

Dasi, Taoyuan
Dasi dried tofu (大溪豆干), There are two kind dried tofu basically,plain dried tofu and flavored dried tofu. People eat dried tofu as a dish or snack in Taiwan.

Taichung
Suncake(太陽餅) is the most noted pastry in Taichung. It is baked layered pastry with a sweet center that is often made with honey or molasses.

Tainan City
Pork knuckles (豬腳肉}, Tainan noodles (台南擔仔麵}, shrimp and meat dumplings (蝦仁肉丸}, and shrimp crackers/biscuits are among the most notable local dishes. Another popular dish originating in Tainan is "oily rice", a rice dish containing savoury oils and pork meat.
Coffin Bread (棺材板) is similar to French Toast, but filled with savory fillings, such as Black Pepper Beef or Curry Chicken. Thick cut bread is dipped in egg, deep fried, cut along three sides, opened and filled, and eaten.

Desserts
There is a type of outdoor barbecue called khòng-iâu (焢窯). To barbecue in this manner, one first builds a hollow pyramid up with dirt clods. Next, charcoal or wood is burnt inside until the temperature inside the pyramid is very high (the dirt clods should be glowing red). The ingredients to be cooked, such as taro, yam, or chicken, are placed in cans, and the cans are placed inside the pyramid. Finally, the pyramid is toppled over the food until cooked.

Night market dishes
Taiwan's best-known snacks are present in the night markets, where street vendors sell a variety of different foods, from finger foods, drinks, sweets, to sit-down dishes.In these markets, one can also find fried and steamed meat-filled buns, oyster-filled omelets, refreshing fruit ices, and much more. Aside from snacks, appetizers, entrees, and deserts, night markets also have vendors selling clothes, accessories, and offer all kinds of entertainment and products.



Discussion Questions

Session One

1. We talked about cultures and food styles in other countries last week. What is the food style in Taiwan? What cultures is it influenced by?
   
2. Taiwanese food is popular around temples and train stations in each county. Meanwhile the night markets are also developed well. Try to discuss this phenomenon from the cultural and life style point of view.
   
3. Do you think foreign foods in Taiwan taste like the food in its original country (i.e. Japanese food)? Why?
   
   

Session Two

Please share the good restaurants and good discounts, even the “lu-bian-tan” around Taiwan!!